Electronic device, ad hoc network establishment method, and program product

ABSTRACT

In at least one embodiment of the disclosure an electronic device includes a search unit configured to search wireless communication devices for channels provided for establishing an ad hoc network. A measuring unit is configured to measure a receiving level of wireless signals received from the devices found by the search. An allocation unit is configured to generate an allocation result for the channels by adding a weight to each of the channels, the weight increasing as a strength of the measured receiving level of the wireless signals increases. A calculating unit is configured to calculate a radio interference power for a channel X based on the allocation result of the channel X and the allocation result of a close channel causing a radio interference with the channel X. An establishing unit is configured to select the channel having a smallest radio interference power as calculated by the calculating unit and establish the ad hoc network for the selected channel.

CROSS-REFERENCE

The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent ApplicationNo. 2008-072351 filed on Mar. 19, 2008, which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

International Standards IEEE 802.11, as one of wireless LAN (local areanetwork) standards, regulates ad hoc network constituted by onlyelectronic devices providing wireless communication, and infrastructurenetwork providing communication via relay devices (access points).

The ad hoc network capable of communicating without any access point hasbeen increasingly used in recent years for connection with a pluralityof computers, printers, projectors or the like via the ad hoc network.

In establishing a new ad hoc network, there is a possibility thatinadequate connection or poor communication may be caused when a channelproducing large interference with existing wireless communicationnetwork is selected.

According to known electronic devices providing wireless communication,a user generally selects a channel to be used for the ad hoc network ora channel specified as default when establishing a new ad hoc network.

It is difficult, however, for the user to select an appropriate channelconsidering the surrounding radio condition before making the channelselection. This also applies to the case of selecting a default channel.In either of the cases, a channel causing less radio interference needsto be found by a trial and error method which initially selects achannel for providing wireless communication and changes the channel atthe time of a generation of large radio interference, since thesurrounding radio condition is not considered.

A method for controlling channels in a manner as to prevent generationof radio interference in infrastructure network containing a main unitand a sub unit has been proposed (see, for example, Japanese PatentPublication No. JP-A-10-257561). This method controls such thatadjoining channels have different diffusion codes in case of a spectrumdiffusion system in addition to infrastructure network. Thus, with thelimitation of infrastructure network as well, this method cannot be usedfor channel selection at the time of establishment of a new ad hocnetwork.

SUMMARY

Various embodiments provide a technology for automatically selecting achannel causing less radio interference with existing wirelesscommunication network at the time of establishment of a new ad hocnetwork.

An electronic device according to at least one embodiment includes asearch unit which searches a device providing wireless communication foreach of plural channels allowed for establishing an ad hoc network. Ameasuring unit measures a receiving level of wireless signals fromdevices found by the search. An allocation unit generates an allocationfor channels through which the wireless signals are received from thedevices found by the search for each of the devices while adding largerweight as the measured receiving level of the signals of the devicesincreases. A calculating unit calculates a radio interference powerreceived when selecting a channel from the plural channels andestablishes the ad hoc network for the selected channel based on theallocation result obtained by the allocation unit. An establishing unitselects the channel having the smallest radio interference powercalculated by the calculating unit and establishes the ad hoc networkfor the selected channel.

In certain embodiments the calculating unit calculates the radiointerference power for a channel X based on an allocation result of thechannel X and an allocation result of a close channel causing radiointerference with the channel X. In this case, the calculating unit maycalculate the radio interference power of the channel X by giving largerweight to an allocation result of a channel having a frequency closer tothat of the channel X among the channels causing the radio interferencewith the channel X.

As such, an appropriate channel causing less radio interference withexisting wireless communication network can be automatically selectedfor establishment of an ad hoc network.

An ad hoc network establishment method according to certain embodimentsinclude searching a device providing wireless communication for each ofplural channels allowed for establishing ad hoc network; measuring areceiving level of wireless signals from devices found by the search;performing an allocation for channels through which the wireless signalsare received from the devices found by the search for each of thedevices while adding a larger weight as the measured receiving level ofthe signals of the devices increases; calculating radio interferencepower received when selecting a channel from the plural channels andestablishing an ad hoc network for the selected channel based on theallocation result; selecting the channel having the smallest radiointerference power calculated in the calculating; and establishing an adhoc network for the selected channel.

The ad hoc network establishment method according to at least oneembodiment is performed by an electronic device executing a softwareprogram. The program (either entirely or in part) may be installed orloaded on the electronic device via various types of computer readablemedia such as CD-ROM, magnetic disk, semiconductor memory, and/or acommunication network.

Reference in the specification to the term “unit” may refer to not onlya physical unit but also a function of the unit provided by the softwareprogram. A function of one unit or device may be provided by two or morephysical units or devices. Functions of two or more units or devices maybe provided by one physical unit or device. As such, the concept of a“device providing wireless communication” or “wireless communicationdevice” includes an electronic device providing wireless communicationand/or other electronic device providing wireless communication.

According to certain embodiments of the disclosure, a channel causingless radio interference with existing wireless communication network isautomatically selected for establishment of a new ad hoc network.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present disclosurewill be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, whereinlike reference numbers reference like elements.

FIG. 1 illustrates a wireless communication system according to certainembodiments.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a function structure of aprinter.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show tables for an automatic channel selection ad hocnetwork establishment function.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an automatic channel selection ad hocnetwork establishment function.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate examples of a search result, RSSI measurementresult, allocation result, and radio interference power calculationresult.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, reference is made to the accompanyingdrawings which form a part hereof, and in which are shown, by way ofillustration, specific embodiments in which the disclosure may bepracticed. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilizedand structural or logical changes may be made without departing from thescope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the following detaileddescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of thepresent disclosure is defined by the appended claims and theirequivalents.

Throughout the specification and claims, the following terms take atleast the meanings explicitly associated herein, unless the contextclearly dictates otherwise. The meanings identified below are notintended to limit the terms, but merely provide illustrative examplesfor use of the terms. The meaning of “a,” “an,” “one,” and “the” mayinclude reference to both the singular and the plural. Reference in thespecification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that aparticular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connectionwith the embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of thedisclosure. The appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in anembodiment” in various places in the specification do not necessarilyall refer to the same embodiment, but it may.

Several embodiments will sequentially be described under correspondingsection headings below. Section headings are merely employed to improvereadability, and they are not to be construed to restrict or narrow thepresent disclosure. For example, the order of description headingsshould not necessarily be construed so as to imply that these operationsare necessarily order dependent or to imply the relative importance ofan embodiment. Moreover, the scope of a disclosure under one sectionheading should not be construed to restrict or to limit the disclosureto that particular embodiment, rather the disclosure should indicatethat a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described inconnection with a section heading is included in at least one embodimentof the disclosure, but it may also be used in connection with otherembodiments.

FIG. 1 illustrates a wireless communication system according to at leastone embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 1 shows a wireless LAN 100, aprinter PRT 1, and a digital camera DC1 as electronic devices capable ofproviding ad hoc wireless communication via the wireless LAN 100.

The wireless LAN 100 is an ad hoc network constituted only by electronicdevices capable of providing wireless communication without accesspoints. According to this embodiment, the wireless communication LAN 100is a wireless LAN in the band of 2.4 GHz in conformity withInternational Standards IEEE 802.11.

The printer PRT 1 has a hardware structure similar to that of anordinary printer.

For example, the printer PRT 1 includes a print processing unit havinghardware components such as a sheet feed mechanism for feeding a sheetto the inside of the printer, a printing engine for performing printing,and a sheet discharge mechanism for discharging a sheet to the outsideof the printer. The printing engine generally contains a sheet feedmechanism, a carriage mechanism, a printing head and the like. Theprinting engine may be any of various types of printing engine allowedto be used in printers such as a serial printer for printing characterby character including ink jet printer and thermal transfer printer, aline printer for printing line by line, and a page printer for printingpage by page.

The printer PRT 1 further includes an information processing unit whichcontains hardware components such as a CPU, ROM, RAM, USB interface,wire/wireless communication interface, and console panel and other userinterface.

The ROM contained in the information processing unit of the printer PRT1 stores a software program for providing a function of a normalprinter, a program for providing ad hoc wireless communication function,a program for providing automatic channel selection ad hoc networkestablishment function (which will be described in more detail below),and the like. These functions are performed by the CPU.

The digital camera DC1 includes hardware similar to that of an ordinarydigital camera such as a CPU, RAM, ROM, CCD, liquid crystal displayunit, USB interface, user interface, and wireless communicationinterface. The ROM of the digital camera DC1 stores program forproviding function of ordinary digital camera such as image pickupfunction, program for providing an ad hoc wireless communicationfunction, and the like. These functions are performed by the CPU so asto enter ad hoc network established by the printer PRT 1 and transmitimages shot and stored in the RAM or the like to the printer PRT 1 viathe ad hoc network for performing printing.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a function structure of an ad hocwireless communication of the printer PRT 1. These functions areconstituted by hardware and/or software, and operate in synchronizationwith and cooperation with one another under the control of a maincontrol unit 11.

A weighting information memory unit 12 stores a table T1 for storingreceived signal strength indicator (“RSSI”) weights (RSSI weightingtable), and a table T2 for storing channel weights of close channels(channel weighting table) as tables to be referred to in the channelautomatic selection ad hoc network establishment function. The RSSIweighting table T1 is so designed as to add larger weight as RSSIincreases. The channel weighting table T2 is so designed as to addlarger weight as a frequency of a channel is set closer.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show examples of the respective tables. According to theexamples shown in the figures, the RSSI weighting table T1 gives weight“2” when RSSI is −70 dB or higher. Also, the RSSI weighting table T1gives weight “1” when RSSI is −80 dB or higher and lower than −70 dB,and gives weight “0” when RSSI is lower than −80 dB.

The channel weighting table T2 gives the maximum weight “5” to a processtarget channel X, and gives weight “5—(channel number difference)” toclose channels having a channel number difference of 4 or smaller fromthe process target channel. The channel weighting table T2 does not giveweight to channels having channel number difference of 5 or larger (inother words, the table T2 gives weight “0” to such channels). Accordingto a wireless LAN in the band of 2.4 GHz currently available in Japan,channels 1 through 13 at the intervals of 5 MHz in the range from 2.412GHz to 2.472 GHz are used, and two channels having a channel numberdifference of 5 or larger are so specified as not to cause radiointerference between one another. Thus, in this representative example,it is unnecessary to consider the channels having a channel numberdifference of 5 or larger at the time of calculation of the radiointerference power in the automatic channel selection ad hoc networkestablishment function.

A set information memory unit 13 stores communication set informationreferred to when the printer PRT 1 provides ad hoc wirelesscommunication. Examples of the communication set information includevarious types of parameters such as SSID as identification informationfor grouping network, channel numbers, key information for establishingencode communication, and communication modes, and IP address setinformation (fixed address or automatic allocation function to be used,and the like), and other information. When the printer PRT 1 establishesad hoc network (becomes creator), channel numbers are automaticallyselected and stored in the set information memory unit 13, as describedlater. The system of encode communication to be used may be WEP, TKIP,AES, or other known system.

An encode communication unit 14 has a function similar to that of anordinary electronic device providing wireless communication forproviding ad hoc wireless communication with an electronic devicecapable of providing wireless communication such as the digital cameraDC1 while encoding or decoding by using communication set informationstored in the set information memory unit 13.

An ad hoc network connection unit 15 has a function of automaticallyselecting a channel and establishing ad hoc network in addition to afunction similar to known functions for entering an existing ad hocnetwork. More specifically, the ad hoc network connection unit 15 has asearch unit 151, an RSSI measuring unit 152, a channel allocation unit153, a radio interference power calculating unit 154, an ad hoc networkestablishing unit 155, and others for providing the channel automaticselection ad hoc network establishment function.

The automatic channel selection ad hoc network establishment functionprovided by the ad hoc network connection unit 15 of the printer PRT 1will now be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 4.The method or procedure is described in terms of firmware, software,and/or hardware with reference to the flowchart. Describing a method byreference to a flowchart enables one skilled in the art to developprograms, including instructions to carry out the processes and methodson suitably configured computer systems and processing devices. Invarious embodiments, portions of the operations to be performed by thead hoc network connection unit 15 may constitute circuits, generalpurpose processors (e.g., micro-processors, micro-controllers, an ASIC,or digital signal processors), special purpose processors (e.g.,application specific integrated circuits or ASICs), firmware (e.g.,firmware that is used by a processor such as a micro-processor, amicro-controller, and/or a digital signal processor), state machines,hardware arrays, reconfigurable hardware, and/or software made up ofexecutable instructions. The executable instructions may be embodied infirmware logic, reconfigurable logic, a hardware description language, astate machine, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), orcombinations thereof.

With respect to various embodiments using a software implementation(e.g., a hardware simulator), at least one of the processors of asuitably configured processing device executes the instructions from astorage and/or recording medium. The computer-executable instructionsmay be written in a computer programming language or executable code. Ifwritten in a programming language conforming to a recognized standard,such instructions may be executed on a variety of hardware platforms andmay interface with a variety of operating systems. Although the variousembodiments are not described with reference to any particularprogramming language, it may be appreciated that a variety ofprogramming languages may be used to implement the teachings of theembodiments as described herein. Furthermore, it is common in the art tospeak of software in one form or another (e.g., program, procedure,process, application, etc.) as taking an action or causing a result.Such expressions are merely a shorthand way of saying that execution ofthe software causes the processor to perform an action or to produce aresult.

In this specification, the order of the respective steps shown in theflowchart or the like (including partial steps to which no numbers aregiven) may be arbitrarily changed or performed in parallel to such anextent that the process contents do not become inconsistent.

For establishing an ad hoc network, the ad hoc network connection unit15 of the printer PRT 1 performs the following processes.

The search unit 151 searches (scans) a device providing wirelesscommunication in each of plural channels allowed for establishing ad hocnetwork (S100). In this embodiment, a wireless LAN in the band of 2.4GHz is assumed as the wireless LAN 100. Thus, the channels allowed forestablishing an ad hoc network are channels 1 to 13. Various knowntechnologies can be used for the search of the device in each channel.

When the SSID of the ad hoc network established or entered by the devicefound by the search agrees with the SSID stored in the set informationmemory unit 13, the ad hoc network connection unit 15 stopsestablishment of ad hoc network and executes process for entering theexisting ad hoc network having the coinciding SSID.

Subsequently, the RSSI measuring unit 152 measures the RSSI of wirelesssignals (such as beacon signals) received from the respective devicesfound by the search (S101). Various known technologies can be used formeasuring the RSSI.

The channel allocation unit 153 provides an allocation for the channelsthrough which the wireless signals are received from the devices foundby the search for each of the devices while giving larger weight as themeasured RSSI of the devices increases (S102).

More specifically, RSSI weight corresponding to the measured RSSI isobtained with reference to an RSSI weighting table, such as the RSSIweighting table T1, stored in the set information memory unit 13, andthe obtained RSSI weight is added to allocation store parameters (e.g.,initial value: 0) for the corresponding channel.

When the search result and RSSI measurement result shown in FIG. 5A areobtained for each of the devices, for example, the RSSI weight shown inthe figure is given. Also, the allocation result (values of allocationstore parameters) shown in FIG. 5B for each channel is given.

When allocation for all the devices found by search is completed, theradio interference power calculating unit 154 calculates radiointerference power for each of the channels 1 through 13 based on theallocation result obtained by the channel allocation unit 153 (S103).

The radio interference power for each channel refers to an estimatedvalue of the degree of radio interference expected to receive from theexisting communication network in the peripheral area when thecorresponding channel is selected to establish ad hoc network. The radiointerference power is so estimated as to increase as RSSI of the deviceusing the channel or the device using channels close to the channelbecomes higher.

More specifically, in calculating the radio interference power of thechannel X, the channel weight for the channel X, and channel weights forthe close channels causing radio interference with the channel X, i.e.,channels (X−4) through (X−1) and channels (X+1) through (X+4) havingchannel number difference of 4 or smaller in this embodiment areobtained with reference to a channel weighting table, such as channelweighting table T2, stored in the set information memory unit 13 whilesetting the channel X as the process target channel. Then, valuesobtained by multiplying the channel allocation results and the channelweights are summed for the channels (X−4) through (X+4) and determinedas the radio interference power of the channel X. Channels notapplicable or having channel number difference of 5 or larger are notadded to the radio interference power.

In case of the allocation result shown in FIG. 5B, for example, theradio interference power for each channel shown in the figure can beobtained. For example, the radio interference power for channel 1 is8×5+2×4+0×3+0×2+2×1=50, and the radio interference power for channel 2is 8×4+2×5+0×4+0×3+2×2+1×1=47.

Subsequently, the ad hoc network establishing unit 155 selects thechannel having the smallest radio interference power calculated by theradio interference power calculating unit 154, and stores the number ofthe selected channel in the set information memory unit 13 (S104).According to the example shown in FIG. 5B, channel 6 having a radiointerference power of 22 is selected, and the corresponding informationis stored.

Then, the ad hoc network establishing unit 155 establishes an ad hocnetwork by referring to the set information memory unit 13 (S105). Morespecifically, the ad hoc network establishing unit 155 executes an adhoc network establishing process similar to known ad hoc networkestablishing process such as notifying a person nearby about the beaconsignal containing information such as SSID stored in the set informationmemory unit 13 by using the selected channel.

According to the structure in this embodiment, radio interference poweris calculated from the surrounding radio condition for each channel, andthe channel having the smallest radio interference power is selected forestablishing ad hoc network. Thus, the appropriate channel having lessradio interference with the existing wireless communication network maybe automatically selected for establishing an ad hoc network.

Modified Example

Although certain embodiments have been illustrated and described herein,it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a widevariety of alternate and/or equivalent embodiments or implementationscalculated to achieve the same purposes may be substituted for theembodiments shown and described without departing from the scope of thepresent disclosure. Those with skill in the art will readily appreciatethat embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure may beimplemented in a very wide variety of ways.

For example, respective values stored in the weighting informationmemory unit 12 (such as RSSI boundary values, range of close channels,and weights) may be varied according to design.

While the wireless LAN in the band of 2.4 GHz based on IEEE 802.11 hasbeen discussed in this embodiment, the disclosure is applicable to adhoc wireless communication using wireless LAN in other frequency bandssuch as a 5 GHz band based on IEEE 802.11, and radio waves in conformitywith standards of Bluetooth (registered trademark), HomeRF (trademark),or the like. When the disclosure is applied to wireless LAN in the bandof 5 GHz, four channels of 5.170 GHz (channel 24), 5.190 GHz (channel38), 5.210 GHz (channel 42), and 5.230 GHz (channel 46) are currentlyavailable in Japan. These channels are so specified that radiointerference is not caused between two channels having channel numberdifference of 8 or larger. Thus, the channel weighting table T2 onlyneeds to be designed as to give predetermined weight to close channelshaving channel number difference of 7 or smaller (4 or smaller inpractical use) from the process target channel.

While RSSI has been used as a receiving level of wireless signals inthis embodiment, receiving power, receiving electric field intensity,and other conditions may be used as the receiving level of the signals.

While the example where the digital camera DC1 enters the ad hoc networkestablished by the printer PRT 1 has been discussed in this embodiment,the functions of the digital camera DC1 and the printer PRT 1 may beexchanged. In this case, the digital camera DC1 has functions similar tothe functions of the weighting information memory unit 12 and the ad hocnetwork connection unit 15 of the printer PRT 1.

The electronic device capable of providing wireless communicationaccording to the disclosure may be electronic devices other than printerand digital camera. Examples of an electronic device for wirelesscommunication according to the disclosure include a server device (suchas wireless print server), a projector, and a photo-viewer.

This disclosure is intended to cover any adaptations or variations ofthe embodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is manifestly intendedthat embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure be limitedonly by the claims and the equivalents thereof.

1-10. (canceled)
 11. An electronic device comprising: a search unitconfigured to search wireless communication devices for each of pluralchannels provided for establishing an ad hoc network; a measuring unitconfigured to measure a receiving level of wireless signals receivedfrom the devices found by the search; an allocation unit configured togenerate an allocation result for the channels through which thewireless signals are received from the devices by adding a weight toeach of the channels, the weight increasing as a strength of themeasured receiving level of the wireless signals increases; acalculating unit configured to calculate a radio interference power fora channel X based on the allocation result of the channel X and theallocation result of a close channel causing a radio interference withthe channel X, and by giving a larger weight to the allocation result ofthe channel having a frequency close to that of the channel X among thechannels causing the radio interference with the channel X; and anestablishing unit configured to select the channel having a smallestradio interference power as calculated by the calculating unit andestablish the ad hoc network for the selected channel.
 12. Theelectronic device according to claim 11, wherein the receiving level ofwireless signals is based on a received signal strength indicator. 13.The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the electronicdevice is a printer.
 14. The electronic device according to claim 11,wherein the electronic device is a projector.
 15. An ad hoc networkestablishment method implemented by an electronic device comprising:searching for wireless communication devices for each of plural channelsallowed for establishing an ad hoc network; measuring a receiving levelof wireless signals received from the devices found by the search;generating an allocation result for the channels through which thewireless signals are received from the devices by adding a weight toeach of the channels, the weight increasing as a strength of themeasured receiving level of the wireless signals increases; calculatinga radio interference power for a channel X based on the allocationresult of a close channel causing a radio interference with the channelX, and by giving a larger weight to the allocation result of the channelhaving a frequency close to that of the channel X among the channelscausing the radio interference with the channel X; selecting the channelhaving the smallest radio interference power; and establishing the adhoc network for the selected channel.
 16. A computer program productembodied in a computer readable medium and comprising computerinstructions executable by the electronic device to implement the methodaccording to claim 15.